Sympathy Gift Etiquette

~Express Your Condolences~

Sympathy gift etiquette is a way to help you express your
heartfelt
condolences to those that are grieving. Sometimes it is difficult to
know what to do for a person you care about. This will help you find
just the right way to express your feelings.

When you are selecting something to express your sympathy, the
most important thing to think about is showing this person that you are
thinking of them
and that you are concerned. Sympathy etiquette is quite simple and it
will bring the person grieving a sense of caring and love.

When
my husband's father passed away unexpectedly, it was so beautiful to
see how many people reached out to him and his family. The cards,
flowers,
plants and gifts that were offered were a ray of light in an otherwise
dark time in their lives. Some years have passed and those things have become a part
of our lives.

There are different ways that you can express your sympathy
for someone. It can be
done through cards, flowers, plants, charitable donations, simple
gifts, and
offers of assistance. Good sympathy gift etiquette allows for any of
these methods as long as you
give them with love.

Sometimes it is not easy to come up with the right words to
say to those grieving. A sympathy
card can express how you feel in a simple, beautifully written verse.
One way to show sympathy card etiquette is to include a short note from
you as you sign the card. It is appropriate to take the card to the
services. There are also times after the services are done and life has
gone on that a sympathy card delivered will do more for those who are
left.

People love to send flowers, because of the color and beauty
that they bring. If you choose to send flowers, use good funeral flower
etiquette and do so in an
arrangement. Following up with a sympathy card sent to their home shows
good sympathy etiquette. If the family has asked that no flowers be
sent, please respect their wishes.

A good alternative to sending flowers is to give a plant.
Plants are beautiful and will continue to live on. They come in so many
varieties that it would be very easy to find something that shows your
feelings. The plant can be one that you keep inside or one that is to
be replanted in an outdoor setting. We have kept some of the plants
that were given to my husband's family. They are a beautiful reminder
in our home of his father.

Many families have requested that in lieu of flowers a charitable donation
be made to either a charity that they have chosen or one of your
choice. Making the donation in the deceased person's name is a
wonderful way to keep their memory alive. It is good sympathy gift
etiquette to share with the family that you did make a contribution.
This can be done in a card, a call or a food basket delivered to them.

A
sympathy gift can be one of many things. Choosing something that will
preserve the good, beautiful memories of their loved ones is good
sympathy gift etiquette. A memory
box
is a very appropriate gift for the family. It will give them a place to
put photos, cards and other small items that remind them of their loved
one. A picture frame can be a good gift as well. Using the relationship
you have with the person or family as a guide will enable you to give a
wonderful gift.

The best sympathy gift that can be given is one of time.
Sometimes all the family
needs is a listening ear, shoulder to cry on, or someone to sit with
them. One of the traditions that we have is to take a meal to the
family during the time of preparations. It is a time when people are
gathering, so to have something there for them to eat alleviates
pressure on the family. Thus showing good sympathy gift etiquette with
a meal is very helpful.

According to sympathy gift etiquette, the
gift or card should be sent to the closest living relative. If they are
not familiar with your relationship with the deceased, it is
appropriate that you include
how you were connected.

Timing of the a sympathy gift is not as important as the love
it is sent with. My husband's mother continued to receive sympathy
gifts throughout the first year. It was very helpful to her during
those quiet and lonely times. Just knowing that someone still cared was
enough light to help her get through.

Taking time to acknowledge the loss of another is definitely a
gift of love. It is one
that is not soon forgotten.